More office spaces could be lost in Midhurst

Offices above Stockly Trading which could become homes

And on Monday night (February 8) members of Midhurst Town Council’s planning committee will discuss plans to change the use of the Old Surgery on Rumbolds Hill to two flats making internal alterations.

They will also decide whether or not to raise objections to a plan to change the use of the former physiotherapy clinic at 47C North Street to a residential home.

At their last meeting town councillors debated a plan to change the use of offices of the first floor above Stockley Trading in North Street.

Although they raised no objections committee chairman Gordon McAra said the town had lost some 24 offices in the town in the last two years, principally for housing.

“This is because the government has made the ability to change from offices to housing more easy.

“But there comes a point where we will run out of offices.”

Among the office space lost were blocks at Peachey House and Hatton House in Bepton Road.

“We need to keep a very close eye on this and judge everything on its planning merits and the wider issues.”

The town council is to ask Chichester District Council for a list of all the town’s office space.

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